Biz reporter leaves for Afghanistan

Birmingham News business reporter Mike Tomberlin is leaving the paper for a 12-month assignment in Afghanistan that has nothing to do with journalism, writes business editor Jerry Underwood.

Underwrood wrote, “A captain in the Alabama Army National Guard, he’s heading off for a mission in Afghanistan that will last for a year. Counting training and preparation, he’ll be away for 15 months.

“Tomberlin is a well-known and well-liked figure in the city’s business community, having crossed paths with just about everybody working in real estate and economic development over the years. He’s been praised for his fairness and his instinct for news.

“Tomberlin has had so many scoops over the years that The News’ editors have long since stopped counting.

“When Vulcan started crumbling, Tomberlin was the first to write the story – while he was on vacation in Gatlinburg. Later, he was the first to break detailed plans about the multimillion-dollar project to restore the giant iron statue.

“He wrote eye-opening stories on wasteful spending by HealthSouth on girl groups and television ventures, as well as many other aspects of what might be the most spectacular business story ever in Birmingham – the company’s financial fraud.”

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